within the SEACSM Chapter
Two years ago, this region initiated a grass-roots media campaign aimed at getting the HP 2000 message to the general public. We encouraged the HP 2000 Network to write short feature columns and letters for small, local, home-town newspapers.
This past year, we invited others to publish some of our features. Dr. Carl Stockton (editor, Virginia Journal) thought it a good idea and has printed a HP 2000 feature in the latest issues of his journal. Two features have been printed already: one written by Kristen Weathersbee and James A. Metcalf (Exercise and children). Another short article by Dianna Purvis (Activity and children) is scheduled to be printed in the upcoming issue. Dr. Jill Varnes, President Southern District of AAPHERD is interested in expanding this cooperative effort and is working with Dr. Stockton and James A. Metcalf to make these features available to other editors of state journals in the Southern region of their organization. We encourage ACSM members who hold membership in other organizations (Physical Therapists, Nurses, Physicians, etc.) to make our features available to their local editors.
There are few community based fitness programs available which meet both the socio-physiological needs and financial limitations of older independent-living adults. The "Fitness is Forever Project" is a well-rounded, no cost/low cost program for older adults in the Boca Raton/Fort Lauderdale regions of Florida which will also publish a free booklet to educate the older population about the importance of maintaining fitness for life.
The existing Boca Raton FAU-Well Program site expanded from 15 to 35 older adult participants due to a community newspaper report about the (FREE) program. Quite a few had to be turned away due to severe health problems that could not be handled adequately without medical supervision. This program runs for 1.5 hours, 3 days/week.
On February 5th (National Heart Month), we began a major fitness promotion at this site: "Walk to the Olympics". Every Olympic walker will receive a button("Cut health care costs, eat right and exercise") when signing up and a gold-embossed certificate of participation when they reach Atlanta (or when the contest ends, whichever happens first). The first male and female finishers will receive official gold-plated olympic torch pins, the next 33 finishers will receive a colorful commemorative pin marketed by USOC. In addition, at the half-way point (about 300 miles), they will receive a US flag-designed paper sun visor imprinted with "I am walking to the Olympics". "Mileage points" are being accrued not only by walking/cycling, but also by participating in strength training, cool-down sessions, assisting with the newsletter, attending health lectures in the community, etc. Logs are being reported to the students and the students have designed a poster-sized map for tracking mileage. The contest will end July 19, 1996.
We are currently in the legal negotiation phase of starting up a site in Hollywood, Florida at the Hollywood South Beach Community Center (about 20 miles south of Fort Lauderdale). This is anticipated to be a free hour-long program twice a week for the older adult community consisting of walking, mini-health lectures, and resistive exercises held on the beach or in the multipurpose room (inclement/hot weather). A HP 2000 presentation was given at the community center in January 1996 about the importance of physical activity/exercise for health and fitness maintenance as one ages and a promotional fitness booth is being planned for this summer.
The exercise booklet is in development. An exercise science student with artistic abilities is creating the illustration and the text is being written by Dr. Marks. It is anticipated that the booklet will be ready for printing and distribution by July.
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Please send comments to:
Dr. Don Torok at: Torok@fau.edu